IDM Most: Hannes Soomer extends IDM lead
Fans and riders gathered in Most, Czech Republic, last weekend for the third of seven events in this year’s International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM). Belgian team boss Werner Daemen travelled to the Superbike class races with his quartet of riders from the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, consisting of Hannes Soomer (Estonia), Leandro Mercado (Argentina), Bálint Kovács (Hungary) and Milan Merckelbagh (Netherlands). With summer temperatures in full swing, Sunday’s races were particularly heated.
After round 2 of the IDM, holding a one-point lead in the overall standings, Hannes Soomer headed to Belgium for the Spa 8H, where he claimed victory in the Superstock class of the Endurance World Championship. From there, he travelled to Suzuka, Japan, to take part in a BMW test for the world championship campaign. Then it was straight back to Most for the next IDM challenge. «A lot of kilometres on different motorcycles», was how the Estonian summed up his trip. «We need to find a little more speed for Most so that I can fight for the win. But I feel great.»
From the first practice session onwards, the Estonian was always among the frontrunners in the IDM Superbike, and he started the races from second on the grid. He didn’t stay there for long in Race 1, as he took the lead after the first chicane. But victory was not a foregone conclusion. First, Lukas Tulovic put up fierce resistance, and Florian Alt also proved to be a tough opponent. The finish line came just in time for Soomer. With a narrow lead of 0.059 seconds, he crossed the finish line as the winner. «The battle started in the first corner of the first lap», said Soomer, «and continued over the entire distance to the last corner. It was tough. The tyres wore more than I had expected in the hot conditions. I think everyone was sliding around quite a bit on the last lap. It was a really great battle with Florian Alt. He drove hard, and so did I. When it ends like this, it’s a lot of fun.»
After a scramble in the first chicane in the second race, things calmed down for the Estonian, especially towards the end of the race. Even though he was unable to fight for the win, he confidently drove home to third place. «It was hotter», Soomer said afterwards, «and I definitely had less fun. Compared to Race 1, I lost pace. I didn’t lose any time battling with Tati Mercado, I just couldn’t go any faster. But I made it onto the podium and I’m still leading the championship. I’d say we’re on the right track.» A glance at the standings shows that Soomer has extended his lead from one point to nine.
Leandro Mercado added another trophy to his collection after his Superstock World Championship victory in the eight-hour race at Spa. «Of course, I feel really good», he said before leaving his adopted home in Italy for Most. «Something like that gives you that extra bit of motivation. But now the focus is back on the IDM. I was a little unlucky in the first two IDM events and dropped a lot of points. Obviously, the championship is tough, but I’m doing my best, as always. I want to score a lot of points in Most and, of course, my goal is to win, as always. Work, focus and push.»
The race started from sixth place on the grid for the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW rider. Mercado took heart in the opening laps and secured a place in the group directly behind the leading trio. Together with BMW colleague Toni Finsterbusch, Mercado fought a fast race, which ended with him finishing fifth. The second race, on the other hand, started with a scare for Mercado. In the first chicane, he was thrown off course by a wild collision in the vicinity. But with a wild swerve, the Argentine was able to continue his race. Even if winning was off the cards for the time being. This was followed by a nice duel with teammate Soomer, which ended with Mercado finishing fourth.
«It was a tough weekend for me», admitted Mercado afterwards. «I came down with a fever on Thursday, so my energy levels weren’t as high as usual. Add to that the heat, and at times I didn’t feel like myself. Nevertheless, I got the most out of it. In the first race, I tried to keep up with the leading group, but to be honest, I didn’t feel great.
I had a few problems with the front on the brakes. Even though it was tough, I managed to finish in fifth place. After a few changes to the bike, I felt much more comfortable in race 2. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for a podium finish. Fourth place was the maximum. I felt really bad. I’m feeling better again in Oschersleben and yes, we’ll keep fighting.»
Bálint Kovács only joined the IDM at the race in Schleiz after his broken collarbone had to heal. «Schleiz was tough», he said of his comeback. «But that was more due to the long break beforehand. After that, I was really exhausted.» But after the EWC races in Spa, where he had to complete five of the eight hours on his own, and a few extra training sessions, the Hungarian was back on top form for Most. His visit to Most last year in the IDM didn’t go entirely smoothly, and qualifying was rather mediocre. «Then I crashed in the second race», he recalled. «I want to show this year that I can do better.»
Kovács succeeded in the Superpole, where he secured eighth place on the grid.
But in the first race, another bad memory was added to the unpleasant ones. After a successful start, he made an unscheduled trip into the gravel trap. The Hungarian was uninjured, but the race was over for him. «I was actually quite comfortable in eighth place», he said after his retirement. «I had space in front of me and was starting to build up a lead over the chasing pack. Then I lost control of the front wheel in the long hairpin bend. It wasn’t a heavy crash, but the race was over.»
The second race was also a bit of a struggle for the Hungarian, but at least the result looked better with a place 6 finish. «We had solved a small technical problem from the first race», he reported. «I took a heavy hit in the collision in the first chicane after the start. I then lost a lot of time and places and was somewhere around 11th. I then made up place after place. Most isn’t really my thing and I caused the problems myself. But I gave it my all and am now looking forward to the next race in Oschersleben.»
Milan Merckelbagh is new to the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team this year and wants to prove his talent by finishing in the top five. After the Schleiz trip, the Dutchman allowed himself only a short break before lining up for the Superbike Championship in his home country – and securing a victory. «It’s been a tough few weeks», he admitted, «but I’m ready for Most. It’s not an easy track, but I like it.»
After taking a detour via Superpole 1, he managed to improve his lap times again in Superpole 2 and rewarded himself with eleventh place on the grid. In the first race, however, there was no reward. Merckelbagh crashed, but giving up was not an option for the Dutchman. He grabbed his slightly scratched BMW and chased after the field from a distance. In the end, however, he came away empty-handed in 16th place.
The Dutchman was understandably not very talkative after race 2 either. He had been hit again, was unable to continue and the race was over for him after just a few laps. «At least I was able to continue in the first race», was his comment. «My brake pressure had dropped and I had to take a wide line. I then crashed on the dirty asphalt. The second race was similar. I turned in late and also skidded on the dirty asphalt.» For Merckelbagh, it is now a matter of overcoming his frustration before he can look ahead again.
There will be no time to relax in the sunshine after the IDM event in the Czech Republic. The IDM continues in two weeks with the second visit to the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben for the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team.
Results
IDM Superbike Qualifying
1. Lukas Tulovic (D/Ducati) 1.31,885 min
2. Hannes Soomer (EST/BMW) 1.32,237 min
3. Florian Alt (D/Honda) 1.32,352 min
6. Leandro Mercado (RA/BMW) 1.32,830 min
8. Bálint Kovács (HR/BMW) 1.33,307 min
11. Milan Merckelbagh (NL/BMW) 1.33,819 min
IDM Superbike Race 1
1. Hannes Soomer (EST/BMW)
2. Florian Alt (D/Honda)
3. Lukas Tulovic (D/Ducati)
5. Leandro Mercado (RA/BMW)
16. Milan Merckelbagh (NL/BMW)
DNF Bálint Kovács (HR/BMW)
IDM Superbike Race 2
1. Florian Alt (D/Honda)
2. Toni Finsterbusch (D/BMW)
3. Hannes Soomer (EST/BMW)
4. Leandro Mercado (RA/BMW)
6. Bálint Kovács (HR/BMW)
DNF Milan Merckelbagh (NL/BMW)
Point Standings after 6 out of 14 Races
1. 112 Punkte Hannes Soomer (EST/BMW)
2. 103 Punkte Florian Alt (D/Honda)
3. 86 Punkte Lukas Tulovic (D/Ducati)
7. 49 Punkte Leandro Mercado (RA/BMW)
9. 34 Punkte Milan Merckelbagh (NL/BMW)
11.28 Punkte Bálint Kovács (HR/BMW)
Gallery
Check out all of the race photos on the photos page
Photos by Damon Teerink